problem: a mad bomber is out on the job, making bombs. he has two fuses (pieces of string) of varying thickness which each burn for 30 seconds. unfortunately he wants this bomb to go off in 45 seconds. he can't cut the one fuse in half because the fuses are different thicknesses and he can't be sure how long it will burn. (for example: the first half of the fuse might burn up in 10 seconds and the second half in 20 seconds.. the fuse doesn't burn at a constant rate, but the total time it would burn is 30 seconds). how can he arrange the fuses to make his bomb go off at the right time?
solution: light both ends of one of the fuses. when that fuse goes out, 15 seconds has elapsed. then light the other fuse.
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